US Secretary of State Pompeo announced a series of "last" sanctions against China, Cuba and Iran on January 15.

The sanctions come just five days before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaves the State Department.

"We condemn China's undermining actions of freedoms and democracy in Hong Kong, will continue to use all of our available tools to hold those involved to account," Pompeo said.

The US sanctions target six people, including Dam Dieu Tong, Hong Kong's sole representative on the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China (China's parliament).

The US Treasury Department announced that it would punish Cuban Interior Minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas a few days after Pompeo announced it had returned the island nation to the list of "terrorist sponsoring countries".

Biden also plans to bring the US back to the nuclear deal with Iran, which was reached under Obama.

Foreign Minister Pompeo announced on January 15 to impose sanctions on a Chinese steel company and a building materials company based in the United Arab Emirates due to its cooperation with Iran Shipping Lines.

China, Iran and companies doing business with the Middle East have not yet commented on the new series of US sanctions.